Lifesupporters.com Forums - View Single Post - California woman awarded $500,000 for being spanked by boss

Luba · 04-30-2006, 07:18 AM

from CNEWS:

FRESNO, Calif. - a jury awarded $1.7 million Friday to a woman who was spanked in front of her colleagues in what her employer called a camaraderie-building exercise.

The jury of six men and six women found Janet Orlando, 53, was subjected to sexual harassment and sexual battery when whe was paddled on the rear end two years ago at Alarm One Inc., a home security company. The jury said Orlando did not suffer from sexual assault, as she had alleged.

Jurors awarded Orlando $10,000 for economic loss, $40,000 for future medical costs and $450,000 for emotional distress, pain and suffering. They awarded her an additional $1.2 million in punitive damages.

Her lawyer, Nicholas (Butch) Wagner, did not return calls for comment. K. Poncho Baker, a lawyer for Alarm One, said it was excessive.

"I think the jury was so upset at Alarm One that they went overboard," Baker said. "Not to say that what Alarm One did was right but this allows her to manipulate the system."

Orlando quit in 2004, less than a year after she was hired, saying she was humiliated during the dompany's camaraderie-building exercises.

Sales teams were encouraged to compete and the losers were made fun of, forced to eat baby food, required to wear diapers and spanked with a rival campany's yard signs.

Lawyers for the company said Orlando and others took part in the exercise willingly. The company has since abandoned the practice.

During the trial, company lawyer revealed Orlando had sued a previous employer, also claiming she had been sexually harassed.

04-30-2006, 07:18 AM	#1 (permalink)
Luba Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 12,781	California woman awarded $500,000 for being spanked by boss from CNEWS: FRESNO, Calif. - a jury awarded $1.7 million Friday to a woman who was spanked in front of her colleagues in what her employer called a camaraderie-building exercise. The jury of six men and six women found Janet Orlando, 53, was subjected to sexual harassment and sexual battery when whe was paddled on the rear end two years ago at Alarm One Inc., a home security company. The jury said Orlando did not suffer from sexual assault, as she had alleged. Jurors awarded Orlando $10,000 for economic loss, $40,000 for future medical costs and $450,000 for emotional distress, pain and suffering. They awarded her an additional $1.2 million in punitive damages. Her lawyer, Nicholas (Butch) Wagner, did not return calls for comment. K. Poncho Baker, a lawyer for Alarm One, said it was excessive. "I think the jury was so upset at Alarm One that they went overboard," Baker said. "Not to say that what Alarm One did was right but this allows her to manipulate the system." Orlando quit in 2004, less than a year after she was hired, saying she was humiliated during the dompany's camaraderie-building exercises. Sales teams were encouraged to compete and the losers were made fun of, forced to eat baby food, required to wear diapers and spanked with a rival campany's yard signs. Lawyers for the company said Orlando and others took part in the exercise willingly. The company has since abandoned the practice. During the trial, company lawyer revealed Orlando had sued a previous employer, also claiming she had been sexually harassed.